KID’S TALK: Signpost Sally

Signpost Sally was an expert at putting up signs. So, whenever the local council wanted a new signpost erected or an old one replaced, she was called on to do her bit.

She put up signs directing people where to go. She put up signs telling drivers of the speed limits. She even put up signs telling people not to do certain things—like playing with a ball, or taking a dog on the beach. Signpost Sally loved her job. But then she simply loved helping people know where things were, how fast they could drive, or where there were places it wasn’t suitable to do certain things.

Unfortunately, there was something about her signposts that bothered Sally. And that was that some people obviously couldn’t be bothered to read her signs.

For example, a month ago, she had just finished putting up a sign, directing people to the local shopping centre, when someone approached her.

“Do you know where the local shopping centre is?” the voice asked.

But, then, she had also seen someone driving at twenty kilometres over the speed limit, and someone else playing ball with their dog on the beach.

Now that didn’t mean that Signpost Sally stopped loving her job. But it did make her wonder, “What was the point of all the signs,” particularly the ones that she had put up.

In the back of her mind was the disaster that she knew was going to happen. But there was nothing she could do about. All she could do was put up the signs to warn people. It was up to them whether they wanted to take any notice.

And, you know, the sad thing is that two weeks ago what she feared came true. Someone was looking for the shopping centre, but ended up at the tip. A car, that was being driven far too fast, missed the bend in the road and landed in a ditch. And a woman, on the beach, slipped on some doggy-doo.

“I just don’t understand some people,” cried Signpost Sally. “Why don’t people take any notice of my signs?” But you know they didn’t. Because no matter what signs Sally put up, there was always someone who would ignore them. “What’s wrong with these people,” she said. “I always take notice of my signs.” And I guess she had a point. But then she was always putting them up.

But then, last week, Signpost Sally saw a road sign. And she took notice of it, because it was one that she hadn’t put up herself. But she wasn’t really interested in what it said. What she was interested in was where it was, what it looked like, and who had put it there. And, of course, that was a recipe for disaster. Because whilst she was still standing there, she had a whole truckload of gravel tipped over her.

“I guess that serves me right,” said Sally. “I should have paid attention to the sign.” And she should have.

*****

Now in this world there are all sorts of signs—signs for our benefit, signs that need our attention. But how often do we take notice of them? And I mean, not just take notice of where the sign is, what it looks like, or who put it there—but what the sign actually says. Because if we a miss a sign—particularly an important sign—then disaster can come to us too.

And just as that is true of the world, so is it true of the Bible too. Because the Bible has many signs in it—signs pointing the way, signs pointing to Jesus. And they’re all there for our benefit. But how often do we take notice of those signs? And how many of us just carry on, doing what we want?

Of course, the problem with the signs in the Bible, is that we if we miss them, we could end up worse than just ending up at the tip, putting our car in a ditch, or treading on some doggy-do. Our relationship with God depends upon them—our eternal well-being may well be at stake.

So we need to take notice of the signs. It’s something we need to try hard to do.

And everybody else … Well if people don’t want to take notice of the signs, there’s not a lot we can do. Except, we could become signs ourselves—people pointing to Jesus—in the hope that others will take notice, and avoid landing up in the eternal tip, ditch, or doggy-doo.